Dear 971 Families,
NEW SNACK AND LUNCH POLICY:
As a School of Math, Science, and Healthy Living, we are focusing on healthy living this year! We know that
when our children are healthy, they come to school focused and ready to do their best and learn.
An important part of healthy living is the food we eat. We now have the healthiest school lunch menu
available in New York City – the VEGITARIAN menu. This does not mean you or your child needs to be
vegetarian, it just means that at school, your child has access to a healthier menu. It also does not mean
that your child cannot bring their own lunch either! If you send in a homemade lunch, they must be as
nutritious and HEALTHY as school lunch.
School lunches are free and nutritious, we want to encourage your child to participate in our school lunch
program. They will be exposed to new foods and will have access to plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. This makes for great eating!!!
We also know that birthdays are a very special day for our children. As a school, we celebrate each child
with a class birthday circle in the morning but if parents wish to come in to celebrate be sure to bring
HEALTHY SNACK and games for students.
I have also noticed many student’s lunches only have snacks and unhealthy items. It is essential that students eat
healthy nutritious food. PLEASE MONITOR YOUR CHILD’S SNACKS TO BE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY. STUDENTS WILL
BE ASKED TO HOLD UNHEALTHY SNACKS TILL THEY RETURN HOME. PLEASE SEE ITEMS BELOW: PLEASE LEAVE
THESE ITEMS AT HOME: (INCLUDES BIRTHDAY PARTIES) Candy, cookies, cakes Takis, Doritos, and other bagged snack foods Soda, juice drinks with added sugar/artificial colors CUPCAKES, BIRTHDAY CAKES, ICE CREAM, JELLO CUPS PLEASE PACK THESE ITEMS INSTEAD: Fruits – apples, oranges, bananas, pears, berries, kiwis, melons, grapes...Vegetables – cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, carrot sticks, snap or snow peas, broccoli or cauliflower florets, kale chips, seaweed snacks... Whole grains – Baked tortilla chips, whole grain pretzels, air popped popcorn, brown rice balls, veggie snacks...FRUIT KEBOBS, FRUIT CUPS, VEGGIES WITH DIP (For birthdays) We know this is a process and we appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm that will help make a difference for our entire PS 971 school community. Please feel free to send me a text on the ‘Remind App’.
Thank you!
Ms. Ruth
GENERAL SCHOOL REMINDERS: COATS: As the weather becomes colder, please be sure to children come to school with hats, scarves, gloves and coats. According to DOE policy children are allowed outside to play outside as cold as 15 degrees!!! BLUE CARDS: Please remember WE WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO LEAVE WITH ANYONE NOT LISTED ONTHE BLUE CARD, also please make sure your CONTACT NUMBERS are updated and correct. TRAFFIC: Please do not allow your children to cross 4th avenue alone. We only have ONE crossing guard on one end of the block. ARRIVAL: Our doors open at 8:10 am. Please be sure your child arrives at that time ready to come in. STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE NO EARLIER THAN 8:05 THEY WILL BE UNATTENDED OUTSIDE BEFORE 8:10. PARENT CONNECT: Don’t forget teachers are available for conferences every TUESDAY from 2:30 pm- 3:05pm. Use the ‘Remind App’ OR ‘Class DOJO’ to make an appointment with your child’s teacher THE REMIND APP: Be sure to use the ‘Remind App’ to connect with our Parent Coordinator Mr. A and others for any concerns, suggestions or questions to support our school. WEBSITE: You can check the PS971.com website to see all the great things going on in our school! PARENT POINTS: Remember!!!! For all meetings, workshops, socials you attend, you can gain “PARENT POINTS”. Great gifts are given to the top THREE FAMILIES at the end of the year! See Mr. A for more information.
NEW SNACK AND LUNCH POLICY:
As a School of Math, Science, and Healthy Living, we are focusing on healthy living this year! We know that
when our children are healthy, they come to school focused and ready to do their best and learn.
An important part of healthy living is the food we eat. We now have the healthiest school lunch menu
available in New York City – the VEGITARIAN menu. This does not mean you or your child needs to be
vegetarian, it just means that at school, your child has access to a healthier menu. It also does not mean
that your child cannot bring their own lunch either! If you send in a homemade lunch, they must be as
nutritious and HEALTHY as school lunch.
School lunches are free and nutritious, we want to encourage your child to participate in our school lunch
program. They will be exposed to new foods and will have access to plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. This makes for great eating!!!
We also know that birthdays are a very special day for our children. As a school, we celebrate each child
with a class birthday circle in the morning but if parents wish to come in to celebrate be sure to bring
HEALTHY SNACK and games for students.
I have also noticed many student’s lunches only have snacks and unhealthy items. It is essential that students eat
healthy nutritious food. PLEASE MONITOR YOUR CHILD’S SNACKS TO BE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY. STUDENTS WILL
BE ASKED TO HOLD UNHEALTHY SNACKS TILL THEY RETURN HOME. PLEASE SEE ITEMS BELOW: PLEASE LEAVE
THESE ITEMS AT HOME: (INCLUDES BIRTHDAY PARTIES) Candy, cookies, cakes Takis, Doritos, and other bagged snack foods Soda, juice drinks with added sugar/artificial colors CUPCAKES, BIRTHDAY CAKES, ICE CREAM, JELLO CUPS PLEASE PACK THESE ITEMS INSTEAD: Fruits – apples, oranges, bananas, pears, berries, kiwis, melons, grapes...Vegetables – cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, carrot sticks, snap or snow peas, broccoli or cauliflower florets, kale chips, seaweed snacks... Whole grains – Baked tortilla chips, whole grain pretzels, air popped popcorn, brown rice balls, veggie snacks...FRUIT KEBOBS, FRUIT CUPS, VEGGIES WITH DIP (For birthdays) We know this is a process and we appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm that will help make a difference for our entire PS 971 school community. Please feel free to send me a text on the ‘Remind App’.
Thank you!
Ms. Ruth
GENERAL SCHOOL REMINDERS: COATS: As the weather becomes colder, please be sure to children come to school with hats, scarves, gloves and coats. According to DOE policy children are allowed outside to play outside as cold as 15 degrees!!! BLUE CARDS: Please remember WE WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO LEAVE WITH ANYONE NOT LISTED ONTHE BLUE CARD, also please make sure your CONTACT NUMBERS are updated and correct. TRAFFIC: Please do not allow your children to cross 4th avenue alone. We only have ONE crossing guard on one end of the block. ARRIVAL: Our doors open at 8:10 am. Please be sure your child arrives at that time ready to come in. STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE NO EARLIER THAN 8:05 THEY WILL BE UNATTENDED OUTSIDE BEFORE 8:10. PARENT CONNECT: Don’t forget teachers are available for conferences every TUESDAY from 2:30 pm- 3:05pm. Use the ‘Remind App’ OR ‘Class DOJO’ to make an appointment with your child’s teacher THE REMIND APP: Be sure to use the ‘Remind App’ to connect with our Parent Coordinator Mr. A and others for any concerns, suggestions or questions to support our school. WEBSITE: You can check the PS971.com website to see all the great things going on in our school! PARENT POINTS: Remember!!!! For all meetings, workshops, socials you attend, you can gain “PARENT POINTS”. Great gifts are given to the top THREE FAMILIES at the end of the year! See Mr. A for more information.